20166/Family Ties

Family Ties
Date of Scene:	02 March 2025
Location:	Charles' Office / Classroom
Synopsis:	Cain is offered shelter at the Xavier School following run-ins with the Acolytes.
Cast of Characters:	Charles Xavier, Cain Marko

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Charles Xavier has posed:
The rifts within the world of the X-Men have changed over the years. Where some have narrowed or almost closed entirely, others are wider than ever. As big as mutant society can be, sometimes it feels like a dysfunctional family. Despite everything, Cain is part of that dysfunctional family both metaphorically and in actuality. That had been why Charles had reached out to his wayward step brother.

The weekend made it an ideal time for such a meeting. There were few students around to be alarmed by a visitor like the Juggernaut, and if things went badly they'd have a day to patch any holes in the wall.

Charles is a younger man than he should be. In truth, he looks maybe only a handful of years older than he did during their war years. The benefits of alien friends. He sits on his desk, not in a chair, with an old book open in his hands. The Once and Future King. Things have changed, it seems.

Cain Marko has posed:
The inexorable approach of The Juggernaut is something that can be felt well before it's actually seen...especially if one knows what signs to look for. THe very air parts around him in a different sort of way. The earth struggles with the pressure of even his most restrained movements... and then there are the thoughts of others around him. Alarm, shock, fear... Maybe even some excitement. There are certainly some rebellious students among the older crowd who think such an individual is someone to look up to.

And then his own thoughts.. A deep mental announcement of <<..I'm here Charles...>> as if the obvious wasn't clear by everything else going on. If nothing else it reveals that he's arrived without armor on or defense against telepathy. A sign of trust that such a vulnerability won't be taken advantage of.

When he finally arrives to the study, ducking his head low to make it through doors sized enough to enable even Colossus to enter,..he can indeed be seen in what passes for casual affair. His vast size restrained enough to fit - if barely - indoors. Jeans, a brown jacket straining over his gargantuan upper body. A T-Shirt sporting a cartoonish almost comedic image of Godzilla upon it. A baseball cap over his strawberry red hair and the beginnings of a rough hewn beard framing his cinderblock of a jaw. Shades hide his blue eyes as they flicker over the room and then finally settle on Charles at his desk...and then past him to the empty wheelchair. Charles youthful look - that's not particularly new or unusual to him. Cain himself looks no older then that fateful day in Korea. Just more 'weathered'. The chair however.

"...Well...this is new Charlie. Where's yer battle tank chair?"

Charles Xavier has posed:
"A benefit of a new body," Charles answers, his tone even and warm as always, "It took some time to learn some things my nervous system had forgotten, but now ... well, it speaks for itself."

If he had heard the telepathic announcement - and he most certainly did - he did not respond to it. He's long made a point of not venturing into the minds of others without an invitation when it can be helped. Even a few words within the confines of the brain can feel invasive, after all.

He closes the book with a clap, setting it down on the desk next to him and rising to his feet. He strides across the room to Cain, extending a hand towards him to shake.

"Are you well? No further trouble?"

Cain Marko has posed:
He grew up with the man. Shared childhood trauma with him - invented trauma -for- him... Drove him to college, went to war with him, and so has seen him walking before. A long, long, long time ago.

This? This is just unsettling and unusual. The very sight of it causes Cain to lift his head up in clear surprise. His massive treet trunk of a neck bulging like a cobra hood as his muscle tenses. The hand is extended and left hanging there for a second. He's clearly having trouble processing all of this in one go.

Then...he simply rumbles, "..Well that's sure werd looking...." and then allows Charles hands to clasp his own meaty outstretched one.

"...You mean The Acolytes?" he finally acknowledges. There is a pause and then, "Not yet. Aside from talkin' with the ol'Queen of Genosha about it. Course that doesn't mean they aint cookin' somethin' up considering why they're mad at me. Got me by surrpise with a psion the last time. I didn't take him out so...could happen again. Or that Exodus fella, maybe...."

Withdrawing his hand, he scratches at the beard that's been growing in - the sound like brush being dragged across concrete as he adds, "Cortez has been trying to get me to meet with 'im but I haven't replied..."

Charles Xavier has posed:
"Well, it took me a while to adjust to you being big enough to put Concrete Charlie to shame," Charles says, making reference to a linebacker from sixty odd years ago, features creasing into a smile as he does, "So, I suppose we're finally even. It only took almost a century."

"I'm afraid that while I want to believe Mister Cortez has changed his spots, I have a hard time trusting him. Bigotry can be blinding, and I'm afraid he's a long way from seeing the light."

He pauses, finishing the handshake and moving away back towards his desk.

"Would you like to stay here? It's unlikely the Acolytes would attack the School outright."

Cain Marko has posed:
"...I aint sure Cortez is the -real- problem...." considers Cain. His phone goes off and he reaches into his jacket to retrieve it. It looks...comically small within his huge hands but his fingers deftly manage it..revealing...yet another text message from Cortez.

He turns the phone around to show Charles, revealing what appears to be a a long string of one sided massive full paragraph texts going back days and days.

Cortez profusely apologizing for the attack. Begging to meet with Cain. Offering the heads of Acolytes on a platter. Wanting to bring Magneto into this to confirm Cortez had nothing to do witht he attacks. Long winded, eloquent, constant barrages of texts that range from anger at him not responding back to frantic acts of attempting to regain The Juggernauts favor.

"Yer Monet...she said Cortez and the Acolytes planned the attack but he's acting a crazy stalker..."

Lowering the phone he rumbles, "...Stay....here? Hah... You aint serious, are you? What would your 'kids' even think of that? You'd get us both run out of here and it's your house..."

He makes an idle gesture, "..Plus I'd have to stay cooped up in here? What if they -did- attack? They're blaming me for the death of two of 'em. That aint gonna just sit quiet and go away.."

Charles Xavier has posed:
"I've always been an advocate of tolerance and acceptance," Charles offers, eyebrows raised, "You must know that about me by now, Cain. If they thought badly about you staying here, then I suppose it would be an opportunity to learn."

He considers his stepbrother's words for a moment, eyes becoming lidded as he looks out the window over the grounds of the estate beyond. His father left behind a lot and there's no denying that.

"We have out buildings, if you'd prefer not to stay in the main house. As for the Acolytes, we're well-equipped to defend ourselves if the need arises. I wouldn't hold you prisoner, of course, but perhaps you'd benefit from having others around you."

Cain Marko has posed:
"Hnnngh..."

Cain makes a rumble like a confused bull. His nostrils flare, adding to that impression and he reaches up to rub his jaw while frowning. There's clearly a but of emotional turmoil building up. Him? Hide? Take refuge in his brothers home? His former home? Run away from a fight?

But the matter is rather confusing and growing complicated. More so by the second. "I can't go to Genosha or The Asteroid.." he considers. aloud as if walking himself through his options. "..Don't trust the teleporters. I done already told Lorna about what's happening... Cortez keeps texin' me.. Obviously he aint got much control over his own people.. I got a safehouse but I think they know where it is..."

He quiets once again and then finally rumbles, "..Alright Charles. I'll hang out here for abit. But... I don't hide from fights. You folk are gonna end up wanting to do something about The Acolytes. Magneto sure as hell aint. You know Cortez blames you all for somethin'. Something about Sinister and Acolytes getting kiled when he thinks the X-Men shoulda been there..."

Charles Xavier has posed:
"Let's cross that bridge when we come to it," Charles offers, drawing his hands together as an agreement is reached, "We aren't hiding. If we must defend ourselves, we are able. Sometimes it is unavoidable. But it won't be our first solution."

The mention of Cortez' grievances prompts the man to incline his head forward thoughtfully. Taking it on board, although saying nothing about it.

"I won't offer you your old room. We've remodeled substantially. But I have an idea ... "